SHAUN Wright-Phillips reckons that City having 9,000 fans inside Old Trafford tomorrow lunchtime could make all the difference in the FA Cup derby.

The England under-21 midfielder points to the miracle fourth-round escape at Spurs as proof that fan power can lift a side over the finishing line.

And the Blues' goal scorer in the 3-1 league defeat at the hands of the Reds back in December says he can't wait to sample the mood and turn that result around.

"I am sure the atmosphere will be unbelievable. It is really special even when we have only 3,000 fans on our side, and I believe there will be triple that amount in the stadium tomorrow," he said.

"No-one should underestimate the difference that they can make. The City fans were terrific at Tottenham and never gave up on us and they always add a good ten per cent extra when it is against United."

Adamant

Wright-Phillips, who is second in the Blues' goals table this season with eight following his midweek strike at Liverpool, is adamant that the only things that could beat that magnificent comeback at Spurs is a victory over City's neighbours, and then winning the cup itself.

"I have never played in a game like that one at Tottenham and I am sure there will not be another one to come anywhere near it in the rest of my career," he said. "But a win tomorrow would be just as sweet.

"I suppose it is fair to say that anything other than a derby match after that might have been an anti climax, but we are delighted to be here and United will know they are in for a tough game."

Work rate will be the key to matching the Reds, Wright-Phillips believes, and he shuns the notion that the gods might just be in the Blues' corner.

"People talk about fate and a team's name being on the cup but I don't believe in that," he said. "We had a bit of luck for a change at White Hart Lane and we played very, very well and worked extremely hard in that second half.

"We played for pride and our fans and we deserved what we got.

"We blew a little bit hot and cold in the league game at Old Trafford and yet we still created plenty of chances and their keeper Tim Howard had to play well.

"I think it will be a close contest tomorrow."

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